Key-controlled switch.



L. e. v's'rEPzmsKnl KEY CONTROLLED-SWT AFPLICATIN FILED JULY 24| Patented Dee. 31, 1918.

KEY-CONTROLLED SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

Application filed July 24, 1915,. Serial No. 41,778.

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Luo Gr. STEPZINSKI, a i

use the same.

lThis invention relates to a switch for controlling ignition systems, particularly in automobiles. It pertains more particularly to a switch protected by means of a lock and key,.whereby Said switch cannot be removed or molested in any way.

The invention includes a switch controlled by a lock and key and means operated thereby to overlie and protectthe Screws or other means by which the switch parts are secured to the machine, while the switch is in the off or locked position, all of which will be clearly understoodin the following specifica.- tion aided by the accompanying drawing.

In order to provide against the appropriation of automobiles and to prevent thiev- ,ery, it has become the custom to provide a switch that can be kept under lock and key and which in consequence cannot be operated except 'by a person -in possession of the proper key.

v- Sometimes these switches or parts of them aresecured to the dash7 or some other part ofthe machine by means of screws, bolts, or the like, which if left exposed can be easily withdrawn and the switch exposed so as to be operated whereby the engine can be started, making the lock and key of little value in the way of protection.

It is vmy purpose in view of the above to provide a peculiar arrangement of parts whereby the screws, bolts or other fastening devices used to hold the Vswitch parts in place can be wholly covered from view and protected in such a way that a tool cannot be used to removethe switch while the device is locked, said fastening devices, however, being very readily removed for inspection or repairs at any time it is unlocked.

In the drawing forming a part of this application,

Figure 1 shows the switch.

Fig. 2 shows the front side of an outer closure for said switch.

`working parts of the Fig. 3 Shows the back side of the closure and certain working parts; and,

Fig. L shows a side elevation, in part section, of the switch body and the said closure. Fig. 5 is an enlarged section of a portion of the switch body showing a threaded plug.

The switch body, Fig. l, consists of a back portion A and a raised marginal wall B creating a recess within which are the working parts of the switch of which C is a rotatable member suitably mounted in the back A. Aiixed to said Amember is a metal plate including'an arm D acting to limit the movement of the switch, and including also a part E in permanent sliding engagement with a conductor F secured on said back A.

G Hare spring conductors secured in the back A one of which is connected with the m'agneto,rfor example, and the other with the batteries of the machine. These conductors lie in the path of the part E and the latter serves to form a connection with either of them and said conductor F, which latter is connected to some part of the machine not necessary to describe-and which is common practice. e

The rotatable member C is slotted at J across its center of rotation and said slot lies parallel to the arm D by preference.

The portion to which I now wish to direct particular attention and forming the subject of my invention is shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, a part of the same, however, being shown in Fig. l. It `consists of a body similar to that shown in' Fig. 1 and already described in that it has an outer wall K which forms a closure for the switch body shown in Fig. 1, and includes a raised margined wall L shown in cross-section in Fig. 1.

This body K L overlies the body A B, see Fig. 4, the two parts being secured to the dash M or some other portion of the machine by means of suitable fastening devices.

In the present instance I have shown screws N as the fastening means it being observed .that these pass through holesO in turned by means of a key and extended through the wall into the recess at the back created by the wall L. 'To the inner end of the barrel, see Fig. 3, is secured by means of screws T, for example, a metal plate S i which includes two divergent arms U so disposed as to overlie two of the screws N. Extending from the plate also is an arm V provided near its extremity with a pin W.

2 is a rock arm pivoted at 3 on the wall K, one of its portions at one side of the pivot having a slot 4 to receive the said pin W, its extremity at the other side of the pivot adapted to overlie the lower screw hole as shown. The described plate S is provided with an extended key portion 5 adapted to engage the slot J of the described rotatable member C.

The holes O in the wall L7 Figs. l and 2, are each of two different diameters, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, one being just large enough to receive the shaft or shank of the screw, and countersunk to receive the screw head, -the outer portion of the hole being large enough to permit the head to readily i Fig. 1.

pass through. Y

The wall L through which the screw holes extend is provided with extended portions or ears 6 and these, as indicated in Fig. 1, are slotted atv 7 in the same plane with the arms U and member 2.

It is to be observed that when the barrel S of the lock is turned, the divergent arms U are'swung on the same center and will enter or leave the said slots 7.

The same is also true of the member 2 which is swung on its pivot by means of the arm V. The dotted lines, in Fig. 3 clearly illustrate the action and the position the parts take when the key is turned in the lock Vin either direction to throw the switch to either extreme.

As a matter of fact, the dotted lines in Fig. 3 referred to take the position shown when the switch is thrown to the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 1, it being remembered that the switch body is seen from the front in Fig. 1, while the backof the body K L is seen in Fig. 3. The full lines in the figure last referred to take the position shown when the switch is thrown tothe central or olf position shown in full lines in The lock is of such a type that the key in order to be withdrawn must be placed in a vertical or upright position andin taking this position the part E of the switch ,is re- Ymoved fromthe contact members G H'with which it may have been in contact, the circuit being left broken. Y

As this action takes place the divergent arms U must at the same time enter the slots 7, as also'the pivoted member 2, the screw 'heads being thus covered from view, it being impossible to introduce a tool of any kind to curing device since I may vary the structure without departing from the spiritand intent of the invention. f

For instance, I have shown and described a peculiar arrangement with'regard'to parts v V2 to provide means to protect the lower screw of the switch. This is only occasioned by the fact that the screw mentioned is spaced farther from the center about which the arms U turn. If thi'sscrew vwere substantially the same distance from the center of rotation as the others then a single rigid arm equivalent of the said arms U may be employed as stated. Y Y l Again, in Fig. 5 the outer portion of the hole O in the wall L may be closed by a threaded plug 8 which at its inner end-may reach as far as the head of the screw N, if desired. At any rate it is'furnished with an annular groove 9 to lie in the same plane with the slot 7 and the arm U so that the end of the latter can enter it as clearly shown.

This plug Svcloses the h'oleO at the'outer surface of the wall K giving amore finished appearance than shown in Fig. 2. Y The arm U may be shortened suiliciently to just pass'into the groove 9 and it will be understood thatan attempt to remove the plug would be thwarted since the shoulder vat the inner end of the plug willk be brought against the arm andconstitute a stop to further turning. y 'n Y Again, the plug if of hardened steel cannot be touched by a drill and thus access to the interior'of the device by suoli a method will be thwarted.

The body K L together with the parts which it carries may form a separate articleV of manufacture to be sold separately and attached to the body A. That is to say, where a switch is already in use the body KL may be adapted in form to lit it and include the screw holes O in the proper position to register with those of the switch, the arms U and the part 2 being properly disposed so as to cover them.

Having thus described my invention, I claim Y 1. The combination of a base and a casing overlying the same, a lock mounted in said Vcasing including an oscillating locking part the locking part, there alsobeing an'aperture piercing that part of the wallhaving the notch, a member lying in the aperture to secure the casing to the base, its end lying below the notch, and a member lying in the aperture outward from the notch to cover the rst named member and having a notch therein corresponding with that of the casing in position to receive the said extension.

2. The combination of a base and a casing, a lock mounted in said casing including an oscillating part and a lateral extension thereof, there being a bifurcated extension on the casing lying in the same plane as the first named extension, the latter adapted to enter between the bifurcations, there being an aperture extending through said bifurcated extension, a member engaging that part of the latter lying nearest the base and engaging the latter for securing the easing and base together, the member being normally covered by the said first named eXtension, and a member inserted in the aperture of the other parts of the bifurcated eXtension and engaged by the first named eXtension.

The combination of a casing and a base, a lock in said casing including a barrel and a part extending from it, said casing having a notch in its wall adapted to receive into it the said part in the movement of the barrel, there being a hole through said casing cut` tino` through said notch, a screw lying in said hole at one side of said notch securing the casing to said base, and a plug having threaded engagement with the other portion of the hole at the opposite side of the notch and terminating at one of its ends at the screw and at its other end outward from the notch and provided with an annular groove in the same plane with said notch and adapted to receive the said part on the said barrel.

4. The Combination of a casing and a base, a lock mounted in said casing including a rotating barrel portion and a part extending from it, there being a notch in the wall of the casing in position to receive into it the said part, there being a hole through said casing cutting the notch at right angles, a screw seated in the hole at one side of the notch adapted to secure the casing to the said base, and a plug having threaded engagement with the other portion of the hole at the opposite side of the notch, the same having an annular groove substantially in the same plane with the notch adapted to receive into it the said part of the said barrel and adapted to prevent the removal of said plug.

In testimony whereof I aiiX my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

LEO G. STEPZINSKI. Witnesses:

W. I. SLEMMoNs, L. M. THURLOW.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing' the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

